Fire and rescue sector highlights growing demand and limited resources
The UK Government has published the Spring Statement 2025, confirming investment in defence, housing and skills, while setting the stage for a full Spending Review in June.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have issued responses expressing concern about the ongoing impact on the fire sector.
According to the NFCC, the fire and rescue sector was not prioritised in this year’s Spring Statement, despite increased responsibilities and rising demand.
Chair Mark Hardingham warned that without clear investment commitments in the upcoming Spending Review, services may be unable to meet growing public safety needs.
The NFCC welcomed the £625 million allocated for construction sector skills development, which it identified as a barrier to addressing building fire safety.
However, it said further clarity was needed on how the funding would be deployed.
Call for increased recognition of fire service role in resilience
Hardingham said: “We urgently need assurances ahead of the Spending Review that investment in these critical services will be prioritised to protect public safety.”
He added that since 2008 the number of full-time firefighters has fallen by 11,000, while 999 incidents have increased by 18% over the past ten years.
He highlighted the gap between demand and available resources, noting that there has been no new capital funding for more than a decade.
The NFCC also pointed to additional pressures arising from expanded regulatory roles in the wake of the building safety crisis and new threats linked to climate change and technology.
Hardingham said: “We want to see [fire services] feature prominently in the Government’s plans in the coming months as we move towards the Spending Review.”
Union criticises Labour for not reversing public sector pay decline
The Fire Brigades Union issued a separate response urging the government to increase funding for public sector pay.
FBU General Secretary Steve Wright criticised the Chancellor’s approach, stating that the fire service has faced more than a decade of cuts.
Wright said: “Labour must make funding available for substantial pay increases in the fire service and across the public sector.”
He also called on the government to introduce a wealth tax to fund these increases.
The FBU cited research suggesting a 2% tax on assets over £10 million could raise £24 billion annually.
Construction investment welcomed, but calls for safety prioritisation
As part of the Spring Statement, the government confirmed a £625 million investment in construction skills over four years.
The programme is expected to support the training of up to 60,000 additional workers.
The NFCC welcomed the announcement but cautioned that the success of the investment depends on effective targeting.
Hardingham said: “This investment must be backed by a clear strategy to ensure the funds are going to where they are needed most.”
He also stated that construction-related skills shortages have delayed remediation of unsafe buildings and limited fire safety improvements.
Housing commitments increase pressure on safety regulators
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projected that recent planning reforms will result in 170,000 additional homes being built.
The government also announced £2 billion in additional funding for social and affordable housing for 2026–27, ahead of wider housing investment plans to be set out in June.
According to the NFCC, the scale of new housing development places additional regulatory burdens on already stretched fire and rescue services.
Hardingham said: “The lack of capital funding has hindered efforts to modernise services and improve firefighter safety.”
The government confirmed that a revised Long-Term Housing Strategy would be published later in 2025.
Concerns raised over local authority finances and resident safety
Director at Harmony Fire, Lee Goodenough, commented on the potential impact of the Spring Statement on housing safety.
He noted that reduced fiscal headroom and pressure on local authority finances could affect investment in building safety.
Goodenough said: “It is now more important than ever that landlords prioritise those safety interventions and upgrades that are the most consequential to protecting the lives of residents.”
He warned against spending on “low-level actions that will not save lives or stand up to scrutiny.”
Government delays building safety levy implementation
The government confirmed a one-year delay to the Building Safety Levy, which will now come into effect on 1 October 2026.
The levy aims to fund building safety remediation and will include exemptions for affordable housing and smaller developments.
Previously developed land will benefit from a reduced rate to support site viability.
However, no new capital funding for fire services was included in this year’s announcements.
The delay in levy implementation may impact the speed of remediation for unsafe buildings, particularly in areas dependent on levy funding.
Spending Review expected to set future direction
The Chancellor confirmed that a full Spending Review will take place in June 2025.
This review is expected to include longer-term investment plans for social housing and infrastructure.
Ahead of that, the government has increased capital investment by £13 billion across the Parliament and confirmed reforms to planning processes.
The NFCC urged ministers to use the Spending Review to address longstanding resource issues facing fire services.
Hardingham said: “We stand ready to work with ministers to ensure that services are properly resourced to meet the increasing risks and demands they face.”
Fire sector and public sector pay remain unresolved in Spring Statement
Despite increased investment in defence, housing and skills, the Spring Statement did not include direct funding for fire services or commitments on public sector pay.
The fire sector has expressed concern that its role in national resilience and public safety continues to be overlooked.
The FBU and NFCC both emphasised the need for long-term, strategic investment to address capability gaps.
The upcoming Spending Review will now be the next opportunity for the government to respond to these concerns.
Fire services call for investment and support amid Spring Statement housing and skills focus: Summary
The Spring Statement 2025 included £625 million for construction skills, £2 billion for social housing and a one-year delay to the Building Safety Levy.
The NFCC said fire and rescue services need urgent investment to address increased demand, staffing reductions, and added regulatory responsibilities.
The FBU called for a wealth tax to fund public sector pay increases.
Harmony Fire’s Lee Goodenough said budget constraints could impact housing safety upgrades.
The OBR reported that housing targets would not be met, with only 1.3 million homes expected instead of 1.5 million.
The government confirmed a full Spending Review for June 2025, where long-term funding decisions will be made.